Connectible component identification

ABSTRACT

A connectible component is connected to a housing. A sensor of the housing is utilized to detect an identity element of the at connectible component. The connectible component is identified utilizing the at least one sensor. In some implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify whether or not a connectible component is connected to the housing. In other implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify the type of connectible component that is connected. In such implementations, the housing may house an electronic device and the electronic device may be configured based on the type of connectible component that is connected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/409,531, filed Aug. 23, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/884,384, filed May 27, 2020, which is acontinuation of patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/023,931, filed Mar. 22, 2016, which is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 applicationof PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/062514, filed Sep. 29, 2013,which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to connectible components, and morespecifically to identification of connectible components.

BACKGROUND

Many devices include connectible components. For example, sport andhealth monitors, as well as other devices worn on a user's body, may beconnectible to one or more bands. Such bands may be an essential part ofsuch devices in order for them to be secured to a user's wrist or otherbody part. Such bands may also provide unique styling and comfort forthe device.

Various different types of bands may be available for a wearable deviceincluding, but not limited to, bands of various types of materials,colors, and styles. Some types, such as tight fitting silicone bands,may be designed for physical activities. Other types, such as metal linkbands, may be designed for style and use in social situations.

Given that various different types of bands may be available for awearable device, quick attachment and detachment mechanisms may beavailable to enable a user to quickly and easily change between variousbands. The user may change between various bands based on the user'sactivity, mood, or outfit.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure discloses systems and methods for connectiblecomponent identification. A connectible component may be connected to ahousing. A sensor of the housing may be utilized to detect an identityelement of the connectible component. The connectible component may beidentified utilizing the at least one sensor.

In some implementations, identification of the connectible component mayidentify whether or not a connectible component is connected to thehousing. In other implementations, identification of the connectiblecomponent may identify the type of connectible component that isconnected. In such implementations, the housing may house an electronicdevice and the electronic device may be configured based on the type ofconnectible component that is connected. In still other implementations,identification of the connectible component may identify a position inwhich the connectible component is positioned. In such implementations,the housing may house an electronic device and the electronic device maybe configured based on the position in which the connectible componentis connected.

In some embodiments, a method for connectible component identificationmay include: connecting at least one connectible component to at leastone housing; utilizing at least one sensor of the at least one housingto detect at least one identity element of the at least one connectiblecomponent; and identifying the at least one connectible componentutilizing the at least one sensor.

In various embodiments, a system for connectible componentidentification may include: at least one housing; at least oneconnectible component that is connectible to the at least one housing;at least one identity element coupled to the at least one connectiblecomponent; and at least one sensor coupled to the at least one housingthat detects the at least one identity element when the at least oneconnectible component is connected to the at least one housing. The atleast one connectible component may be identified based at least on theat least one sensor.

In one or more embodiments, a device may include at least one housingand at least one sensor coupled to the at least one housing that detectsat least one identity element of at least one connectible component whenthe at least one connectible component is connected to the at least onehousing. The device may identify the at least one connectible componentbased at least on the at least one sensor.

In various implementations, the identify element may include one or moremagnetic elements and the sensor may include at least one Hall effectsensor. In addition to identification, in some cases such magneticelements may be utilized as part of a connection mechanism utilized toconnect the connectible component to the housing and/or disconnect theconnectible component from the housing.

However, in other implementations, the identity element may be anelement other than a magnetic element. In some implementations, theidentity element may be at least one near field communicationtransmitter detectable by at least one near field communicationreceiver, at least one colored indicator detectable by at least oneoptical detector, at least one bar code detectable by at least onebarcode reader, at least one mechanical feature detectable by at leastone mechanical feature detector, at least one electrode detectable by atleast one contact, at least one infrared emitter detectable by at leastone infrared detector, at least one light emitter detectable by at leastone light detector, and/or any other such element that can be utilizedto identify the connectible component.

In embodiments where the identity element is a number of magneticelements, the magnetic elements may be separate magnetic elements.Alternatively, the magnetic elements may be individually controllablemagnetic surfaces of a larger magnetic element. In such embodiments, themagnetic elements may be configured to encode one or more codes that maybe detectable by one or more Hall effect sensors.

In some cases, the connectible component may be connected to the housingby moving the connectible component in a direction toward one or moresensors positioned within the housing. In other cases, the connectiblecomponent may be connected to the housing by moving the connectiblecomponent in a direction parallel to one or more Hall effect sensorspositioned within the housing.

In various implementations, the sensor may be completely enclosed withinthe housing.

In some such implementations, the housing may be waterproof. However, inother implementations the sensor may be at least partially positioned onat least one external surface of the housing.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are for purposes of example andexplanation and do not necessarily limit the present disclosure. Theaccompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a partof the specification, illustrate subject matter of the disclosure.Together, the descriptions and the drawings serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first example system forconnectible component identification.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a second example system forconnectible component identification.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a third example system forconnectible component identification.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth example system forconnectible component identification.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a fifth example system forconnectible component identification.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram illustrating a sixth example system forconnectible component identification showing the connectible componentin a first connected position.

FIG. 6B illustrates the system of FIG. 6A showing the connectiblecomponent in a second connected position.

FIG. 7 is a method diagram illustrating a method for connectiblecomponent identification. This method may be performed by the systems ofFIGS. 1-6B.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an electronic device that may be housedwithin the housings of FIGS. 1-6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, andcomputer program products that embody various elements of the presentdisclosure. However, it should be understood that the describeddisclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to thosedescribed herein.

The present disclosure discloses systems and methods for connectiblecomponent identification. A connectible component may be connected to ahousing. A sensor of the housing may be utilized to detect an identityelement of the connectible component. The connectible component may beidentified utilizing the at least one sensor.

In some implementations, identification of the connectible component mayidentify whether or not a connectible component is connected to thehousing.

In other implementations, identification of the connectible componentmay identify the type of connectible component that is connected. Insuch implementations, the housing may house an electronic device and theelectronic device may be configured based on the type of connectiblecomponent that is connected.

In still other implementations, identification of the connectiblecomponent may identify a position in which the connectible component ispositioned. In such implementations, the housing may house an electronicdevice and the electronic device may be configured based on the positionin which the connectible component is connected.

In some implementations, the connectible component may be one or morewatch bands. In such implementations, the housing may comprise one ormore watch bodies. However, it is understood that this is an example. Inother implementations the connectible component may include any kind ofcomponent that may connect to any kind of housing, such as a connectorthat connects to a mobile computing device, a belt that connects to abuckle, a keyboard that connects to a tablet computing device, and soon.

In various implementations, the identify element may include one or moremagnetic elements (such as permanent magnets, electromagnets, and so on)and the sensor may include at least one Hall effect sensor (e.g., atransducer that varies its output voltage in response to a magneticfield). In addition to identification, in some cases such magneticelements may be utilized as part of a connection mechanism utilized toconnect the connectible component to the housing and/or disconnect theconnectible component from the housing.

However, in other implementations, the identity element may be anelement other than a magnetic element. In some implementations, theidentity element may be at least one near field communicationtransmitter detectable by at least one near field communicationreceiver, at least one colored indicator detectable by at least oneoptical detector, at least one bar code detectable by at least onebarcode reader, at least one mechanical feature detectable by at leastone mechanical feature detector, at least one electrode detectable by atleast one contact, at least one infrared emitter detectable by at leastone infrared detector, at least one light emitter detectable by at leastone light detector, and/or any other such element that can be utilizedto identify the connectible component.

In embodiments where the identity element is a number of magneticelements, the magnetic elements may be separate magnetic elements.Alternatively, the magnetic elements may be individually controllablemagnetic surfaces of a larger magnetic element. In such embodiments, themagnetic elements may be configured to encode one or more codes that maybe detectable by one or more Hall effect sensors.

In some cases, the connectible component may be connected to the housingby moving the connectible component in a direction toward one or moreHall effect sensors positioned within the housing. In such cases,multiple Hall effect sensors may be utilized that each detect one of themagnetic elements and thereby cooperatively detect a code encodedtherein that may be utilized to identify the connectible component.

In other cases, the connectible component may be connected to thehousing by moving the connectible component in a direction parallel toone or more Hall effect sensors positioned within the housing. Forexample, a Hall effect sensor may be positioned at a corner of thehousing and may detect each of the magnetic elements (and thereby detecta code encoded therein that may be utilized to identify the connectiblecomponent) as the connectible component is moved parallel to the Halleffect sensor while connecting the connectible component.

By way of another example, Hall effect sensors may be positioned atopposite corners of the housing. In such an example, the connectiblecomponent may be connected by moving the connectible component from acorner where either one of the two Hall effect sensors is located in adirection parallel to that Hall effect sensor toward the other Halleffect sensor. As such, that Hall effect sensor may each detect each ofthe magnetic elements, and thereby detect a code encoded therein thatmay be utilized to identify the connectible component.

In various implementations, the sensor may be completely enclosed withinthe housing. In some such implementations, the housing may bewaterproof. However, in other implementations the sensor may be at leastpartially positioned on at least one external surface of the housing.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first example system 100 forconnectible component identification. As illustrated, the system mayinclude a housing 101 and a connectible component 102 that may beconnected to the housing. In this example, the connectible component maybe connected to the housing by moving the connectible component in adirection 105 toward the housing.

As illustrated, the housing 101 is a watch body and the connectiblecomponent is a watch band 102. However, it is understood that this is anexample. In various implementations, the housing may be an item otherthan a watch body (such as a laptop computing device, a desktopcomputing device, a mobile computing device, a tablet computing device,a smart phone, a cellular telephone, a digital media player, a buckle, awearable device, and/or any other such item) and the connectiblecomponent may be any component that is connectible thereto (such as aconnector, a keyboard, a cover, an external device, and/or any othersuch connectible component).

The housing 101 may include one or more sensors 103. Further, theconnectible component 102 may include one or more identity elements 104.When the connectible component is connected to the housing, the sensormay detect the identity element. Based at least on the detection of theidentity element, the connectible component may be identified.

For example, the identity element 104 may be one or more magneticelements (such as one or more permanent magnets, electromagnets, and soon). In this example, the sensor 103 may be one or more Hall effectsensors. When the connectible component 102 is connected to the housing101, the Hall effect sensor may detect the magnetic element.

In some cases, the sensor 103 may identify the connectible component 102by detecting whether or not a connectible component is connected. Assuch, when the sensor is a Hall effect sensor and the identify element104 is a magnetic element, the Hall effect sensor detecting the magneticelement may identify that a connectible component of some type isconnected.

In cases where the housing 101 houses an electronic device, theelectronic device may configure itself in one manner when a connectiblecomponent 102 is connected and in another manner when a connectiblecomponent is not connected. For example, an electronic device maydisplay a “Connectible Component Connected” icon on a screen when aconnectible component is connected and a “Connectible Component NotConnected” icon on the screen when a connectible component is notconnected.

In other cases, the sensor 103 may identify the connectible component102 by detecting one or more codes encoded by the identity element 104.In the present example, the identity element may be a single magneticelement. However, even a single magnetic element may encode codescorresponding to multiple types of bands. For example, the magneticelement may be configured to present a positively (e.g., + or “north”)polarized surface for a “business use” type connectible component, anegatively (e.g., − or “south”) polarized surface for a “home use” typeconnectible component, and a combination of the positively polarizedsurface and the negatively polarized surface for a “sport use” typeconnectible component. As such, whether the connectible component is abusiness use, home use, or sport use may be identified based on thepolarity of the surface detected by the Hall effect sensor.

In cases where an electronic device is housed within the housing 101,the electronic device may configure itself in one manner when a firsttype of connectible component 102 is connected and in another mannerwhen a second type of connectible component is connected. For example,in implementations where the electronic device is a watch, theelectronic device may display a time in a 24-hour time format and acalculator application when a business use type connectible component isattached, a time in a 12-hour format when a home use type connectiblecomponent is attached, and a stopwatch application when a sport use typeconnectible component is attached. When the type of connectiblecomponent detected switches, the electronic device may reconfigureitself accordingly.

In still another example, a tablet computing device may be housed withinthe housing 101 and connectible components 102 of a keyboard or a covertype may be connected. In such a case, the tablet computing device mayconfigure itself to display a word processing application when thekeyboard connectible component type is connected and to put itself intoa power hibernation state when the cover connectible component type isconnected.

The connectible component 102 may be connected to the housing 101 via avariety of different connection mechanisms that are not shown. Forexample, the connectible component and/or the housing may include one ormore magnetic hard (permanent magnets) or soft (materials such asferrous metals that are not magnetic but can become so in response tothe proximity of magnetized elements) that may magnetically attach toconnect the connectible component and the housing when brought togetherin the direction 105 and/or detach to disconnect the connectiblecomponent and the housing (such as by pressing a button that reversespolarity of magnets to repulse the connectible component from thehousing). By way of another example, the connectible component and/orthe housing may include one or more mechanical attachment mechanismssuch as retractable pins and apertures into which the retractable pinsmay insert.

Regardless of the type of connection mechanism utilized, in some casesthe identity element 104 may be part of the connection mechanism. Forexample, in implementations where a magnetic connection mechanism isutilized and the identity element is at least one magnetic element, theidentity element may be operable to magnetically attach to a hard and/orsoft magnetic element of the housing 101. In cases where a mechanicalconnection mechanism is utilized and the identity element is a magneticelement, the magnetic element may assist in positioning the connectibleelement 102 with respect to the housing 101 for purposes of engaging themechanical connection.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a second example system 200 forconnectible component identification. To contrast this example with thatof FIG. 1 , the sensor in this example is a plurality of sensors203A-203D and the identity element is a plurality of identity elements204A-204D. In this example, when the connectible element 202 is broughttoward the housing 201 in the direction 205, the plurality of sensorseach detect a respective one of the plurality of identity elements. Inthis way, the arrangement of the plurality of identity elements encodeone or more codes that can represent a type of the connectiblecomponent.

For example, the plurality of identity elements 204A-204D may bemagnetic elements and the plurality of sensors 203A-203D may be aplurality of Hall effect sensors. In such an example, the plurality ofidentity elements may represent different connectible component 202types based on the polarities of the plurality of identity elements thatface the plurality of Hall effect sensors. A polarity pattern of “++++”may represent a first type of band and a polarity pattern of “−−−−” mayrepresent a second type of band. Additionally, a pattern of “+−+−” mayrepresent a third type of band, a pattern of “−+−−” may represent afourth type of band, and so on, where + denotes a positive polarity and− a negative polarity.

Additionally, though the examples above describe one polarity or theother facing a Hall effect sensor, it is understood that this is anexample. In various cases, one or more portions of each polarity mayface and be detected by the Hall effect sensor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a third example system 300 forconnectible component identification. To contrast this example with thatof FIG. 2 , the sensor in this example is a single sensor 303 positionedat a corner of the housing 301 and the connectible element 302 connectsto the housing by moving in a direction 305 parallel to the sensor fromthe corner of the housing where the sensor is located to the oppositecorner along the direction 305. As the connectible element is connectingto the housing, the various identity elements 304A-304D may passsequentially by (and be detected by) the sensor 303 along the direction305. As such, the identity elements may be configured to encode a coderepresenting a type of connectible element and may be detectable by asingle sensor during connection.

The connectible component 302 may be connected to the housing 301 via avariety of different connection mechanisms that are not shown. Forexample, the connectible component and/or the housing may include one ormore rods that are inserted into one or more tubes in order to connectthe connectible component to the housing (and/or removed from the tubesin order to disconnect the connectible component from the housing).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth example system 400 forconnectible component identification. To contrast this example with thatof FIG. 3 , the identity elements 406A-D may be individuallycontrollable surfaces of a combined identity element 4 as opposed to theseparate and separated identity elements 303A-D of FIG. 3 . Inimplementations where the identity elements 406A-D are magneticelements, the identity elements 406A-D may be individually controllablemagnetic elements.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a fifth example system 500 forconnectible component identification. To contrast this example with thatof FIG. 3 , an additional sensor 507 may be located at an oppositecorner from the sensor 503. Further, in this example, the connectiblecomponent 502 may be connected to the housing by either moving theconnectible element in the direction 505 from the corner where thesensor 503 is located to the corner where the sensor 507 is located orby moving the connectible element in the direction 508 from the cornerwhere the sensor 507 is located to the corner where the sensor 503 islocated. In this way, the connectible component could be connected fromeither side and the connectible component may still be identified.

In some cases, the detection performed by the sensors 503 and 507 may behandled differently as the sensors 503 and 507 would encounter theidentity elements 504A-504D in a different order when the connectiblecomponent 502 is connected to the housing 501. In some cases, the codesencoded by the identity elements may be the same forwards and backwardsso that analysis of sensor detection may be the same for both the sensor503 and 507. For example, in a case where the identity elements weremagnetic elements, patterns of “++−−” and “−−++” may both indicate abusiness use connectible element whereas patterns of “−+−+” and “+−+−”may both indicate a home use connectible element.

However, in other cases, the sensor detection performed by the sensor503 may be analyzed opposite from that of the sensor 507 in order toenable the identity elements to encode a greater number of codes. Forexample, in a case where the identity elements were magnetic elements, apattern of “++−−” may indicate a business use connectible element whendetected by the sensor 503 though the pattern “++−−” may indicate a homeuse connectible element when detected by the sensor 507. Further, apattern of “−−++” may indicate a home use connectible element whendetected by the sensor 503 though the pattern “−−++” may indicate abusiness use connectible element when detected by the sensor 507.

Additionally, though the above discussion of FIGS. 1-5 discussesidentifying connectible components as either present/not present or atype such as business use, home use, and/or sport use, is it understoodthat these are examples. Other connectible component types may beidentified and an electronic device housed by a connected housing may bealtered accordingly. For example, a connectible component may beidentified as manufactured by the same manufacturer as the electronicdevice or a third party. Accordingly, the electronic device may enablecertain extra features (such as an office program) when themanufacturer's connectible component is connected and disable thosefeatures when the third party component is connected in order to rewardbrand loyalty.

By way of another example, connectible components may be of a type thatindicates a power mode or set of power modes for an electronic devicehoused by the housing, communications settings to utilize for anelectronic device housed by the housing, a user for which an electronicdevice housed by the housing is to be configured, and/or a variety ofdifferent indications. Essentially, identifying the connectiblecomponent may identify one or more items of any kind of informationsignified by a type of the connectible component and an electronicdevice housed by the housing may perform any kind of configuration ormodification based on that information. Such configuration ormodification in response to the information may be user configured insome cases such that a user may be able to specify configurations,modifications, and/or alteration of one or more user preferences thatare to be performed when a particular connectible component isconnected. Regardless, the examples given herein are examples and arenot intended to be limiting.

For example, a computing device may be housed within the housing. Whenthe indication indicates that a metallic connectible component isattached, the computing device may configure itself to present metallicicons (and/or a theme of a user interface, and so on). Similarly, when aband of a particular color is attached, the computing device mayconfigure itself to present icons of the particular color (and/or abackground color of the particular color, and so on). Or, as anotherexample, when a silicone band is attached, the computing device mayconfigure itself to present one or more sporting application relatedicons on a “home” screen and/or make such applications available forexecution.

Further, though the above discussion of FIGS. 1-5 discusses embodimentswhere the identify elements are magnetic elements that encode codes byconfiguring a surface of a magnetic element facing a Hall effect sensoras having a positive or negative polarity, it is understood that this isan example. Such magnetic elements may be configured to have eithersingle polarity surface or a particular orientation of both polaritysurfaces without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Further, such magnetic elements may be configured with a particularstrength of a magnetic field such that information is encoded in whetherthe field is strong or weak; strong, medium, or weak; various degrees ofstrength; and so on. Additionally, some magnetic elements may beconfigured to have no magnetic field (or a “null”) and may encodeinformation through the lack of a magnetic field. Additionally, in somecases (such as where one or more of the magnetic elements areelectromagnets) the magnetic field of magnetic elements may change overtime in order to present a pattern, pulse one or more codes, and/orperform other such functions by varying magnetic field.

Additionally, the various sensors and identity elements illustrated inFIGS. 1-5 are illustrated as enclosed within the various housings orconnectible components of FIGS. 1-5 , respectively. As illustrated, thehousings and/or connectible elements may protect the various sensors andidentity elements from the external environment while the varioussensors are still able to detect the various identity elements. In somecases, the housings and/or connectible elements may be waterproof,hermetically sealed, and so on, thus further protecting the varioussensors and identity elements.

However, it is understood that these are examples. In variousimplementations, the various sensors and/or identity elements may bepartially exposed and/or fully external to the various housings and/orconnectible elements without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In some implementations, sensors and/or identity elementsmay be of types that the sensors are not able to detect the identityelements if separated by a housing and/or identity element.

Moreover, in addition to the presence or absence of a connectiblecomponent and a type of a connected connectible component, a connectedcomponent may be moveable between multiple positions and identifying aconnectible component may include identifying in which position aconnectible component is connected.

For example, FIG. 6A is a block diagram illustrating a sixth examplesystem 600 for connectible component identification showing theconnectible component 602 in a first connected position with respect tothe housing 601. In this first position, the sensor 603 may be able todetect an orientation of the identity element 604 to determine that theconnectible component is in the first position.

FIG. 6B illustrates the system of FIG. 6A showing the connectiblecomponent 602 in a second connected position with respect to the housing601. As illustrated, movement of the connectible component from thefirst position to the second position rotates the identity element 604.The sensor 603 may detect the change in the orientation of the identityelement to determine that the connectible component is in the secondposition.

The housing 601 and/or an electronic device housed therein may alterbased on whether the connectible component is in the first position orthe second position (and/or additional positions in other embodiments).For example, the housing may be a housing for a watch with a display.The connectible component 602 may be in the first position when thewatch is “unworn” and in the second position when the watch is “worn.”As such, the watch may shift into a “low power mode” when the watch isunworn by dimming the display under the assumption that a user is notneeding to view the time. Conversely, the watch may shift into a “normalpower mode” when the watch is worn by brightening the display under theassumption that the user may need to view the time when wearing thewatch.

As illustrated, the identity element 604 in this embodiment is amagnetic element that is oriented in the first position to present apositive polarity surface to a Hall effect sensor 603 in the firstposition and a combination of positive and negative polarity surfaces inthe second position. However it is understood that this is an example.In other implementations the identity element may be a variety ofdifferent kinds of identity elements and/or the sensor may be a varietyof different kind of sensors operable to detect orientation of theidentity elements without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a method diagram illustrating a method for connectiblecomponent identification. This method may be performed by the systems ofFIGS. 1-6B.

The flow begins at block 701 and proceeds to block 702 where aconnectible element is connected to a housing. The flow then proceeds toblock 703 where at least one sensor of the housing is utilized to detectat least one identity element of the connectible element. The flow thenproceeds to block 704.

At block 704, the connectible element is identified utilizing the atleast one sensor. The identification may be at least partially based onthe sensors detection of the identity element. The flow then proceeds toblock 705 and ends.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an electronic device 801 that may be housedwithin the housings of FIGS. 1-6B. The electronic device may be any kindof electronic device and may include one or more processing units 811,one or more communication components 813 (which may be any kind ofcommunication component such as a Wi-Fi communication component, aBluetooth communication component, an Ethernet communication component,a satellite communication component, a cellular communication component,and so on), one or more sensors 803 (which may be any kind of sensors),and/or one or more non-transitory storage media 812 (which may take theform of, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium; opticalstorage medium; magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; randomaccess memory; erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on).

Additionally, the electronic device 801 may include one or more othercomponents other than those shown. In some embodiments, the processingunit 811 may execute one or more instructions stored in thenon-transitory storage medium 812 to perform one or more electronicdevice functions. Such functions may include functions such as thosedescribed above and illustrated in FIG. 7 .

As discussed above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, thepresent disclosure discloses systems and methods for connectiblecomponent identification. A connectible component may be connected to ahousing. A sensor of the housing may be utilized to detect an identityelement of the connectible component. The connectible component may beidentified utilizing the at least one sensor.

In some implementations, identification of the connectible component mayidentify whether or not a connectible component is connected to thehousing. In other implementations, identification of the connectiblecomponent may identify the type of connectible component that isconnected. In such implementations, the housing may house an electronicdevice and the electronic device may be configured based on the type ofconnectible component that is connected. In still other implementations,identification of the connectible component may identify a position inwhich the connectible component is positioned. In such implementations,the housing may house an electronic device and the electronic device maybe configured based on the position in which the connectible componentis connected.

In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented assets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it isunderstood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methodsdisclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, thespecific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearrangedwhile remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanyingmethod claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order,and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product,or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable mediumhaving stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program acomputer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a processaccording to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readablemedium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g.,software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the formof, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppydiskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g.,CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); randomaccess memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM andEEPROM); flash memory; and so on.

It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it willbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosedsubject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages.The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of thefollowing claims to encompass and include such changes.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference tovarious embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments areillustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited tothem. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements arepossible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the presentdisclosure have been described in the context or particular embodiments.Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently invarious embodiments of the disclosure or described with differentterminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined inthe claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic system comprising: a connectablecomponent comprising: an identity element; and an electronic devicecomprising: a housing; and a sensor in the housing, wherein theelectronic device uses the sensor to detect the identity element andidentifies a user based on the identity element.
 2. The electronicsystem of claim 1 wherein the identity element is a magnetic element,and the magnetic element assists in positioning the connectablecomponent with the electronic device.
 3. The electronic system of claim2 wherein the sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor.
 4. The electronicsystem of claim 1 wherein the electronic device configures itself basedon the identify of the user.
 5. The electronic system of claim 4 whereinthe identity element comprises a plurality of magnetic elements that areattracted to a corresponding plurality of magnetic elements in theelectronic device to secure the connectible component to the electronicdevice.
 6. The electronic system of claim 5 wherein the identity elementcomprises a plurality of individually controllable magnetic elements. 7.The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the electronic device comprisesa wearable computing device.
 8. The electronic system of claim 1 whereinthe electronic system comprises a wearable computing device.
 9. Anelectronic system comprising: a connectable component comprising: anidentity element comprising one or more magnets and one or more absencesof magnets; and an electronic device comprising: a housing; a magneticelement in the housing, wherein the magnetic element and one or moremagnets in the identity element form a connection mechanism to securethe connectable component to the electronic device; and a plurality ofsensors in the housing, wherein the electronic device uses the pluralityof sensors to detect the identity element, and based on the identityelement, determines an identity of the connectable component from agroup of different connectable components, where each differentconnectable component includes a different identity element, and whereineach sensor in the plurality of sensors detect an absence of or apresence of one of the magnets of the identity element.
 10. Theelectronic system of claim 9 wherein the magnetic element assists inpositioning the connectable component with the electronic device. 11.The electronic system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of sensorscomprise Hall-effect sensors.
 12. The electronic system of claim 10wherein the plurality of sensors each detect an absence of or a polarityof one of the magnets of the identity element.
 13. The electronic systemof claim 10 wherein the electronic device identifies a user based on theidentity element.
 14. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein theelectronic device configures itself based on the identity of the user.15. The electronic system of claim 14 wherein the electronic device is awearable computing device.
 16. An electronic system comprising: a firstconnectable component comprising: a first identity element comprisingone or more first magnets; a second connectable component comprising: asecond identity element comprising one or more second magnets; and anelectronic device comprising: a housing; a first magnetic element,wherein the first magnetic element and one or more first magnets in thefirst identity element form a connection mechanism to secure the firstconnectable component to the electronic device; a second magneticelement, wherein the second magnetic element and one or more secondmagnets in the second identity element form a connection mechanism tosecure the second connectable component to the electronic device; and aplurality of sensors in the housing, wherein the electronic deviceidentifies the first identity element by detecting each of the one ormore first magnets using corresponding sensors in the plurality ofsensors, identifies the second identity element by detecting each of theone or more second magnets using corresponding sensors in the pluralityof sensors, and determines, based on the first identity element and thesecond identity element, an identity of the first connectable componentand an identity of the second connectible component from a group ofdifferent connectable components, where each different connectablecomponent includes a different identity element.
 17. The electronicsystem of claim 16 wherein the first magnets assist in positioning thefirst connectable component and the second magnets assist in positioningthe second connectable component with the electronic device.
 18. Theelectronic system of claim 17 wherein electronic device furtherconfigures itself based on the first identity element and the secondidentity element.
 19. The electronic system of claim 17 wherein theelectronic device further identifies a user based on the first identityelement and the second identity element.
 20. The electronic system ofclaim 16 wherein the electronic device comprises a wearable computingdevice.